‘More Charges Are Coming Soon’ for Suspected Serial Killer in South Carolina: Sheriff

After Kala Brown was rescued from inside a storage container, police uncovered at least three more bodies nearby — and her alleged captor’s chilling secrets. Subscribe now to PEOPLE, or pick up this week’s issue, on newsstands Friday, for much more on this case.

Kohlhepp, a 45-year-old real estate agent, is already charged with four murders in a 2003 mass shooting at a motorcycle shop — and “more charges are coming soon,” Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright says.

Kohlhepp has yet to enter a plea and says he will represent himself in court. He remains in jail. Law enforcement says three dead bodies have been found at his 96-acre property in Woodruff, South Carolina (about 10 miles from his home).

Charges will be filed shortly in connection with two of the deaths, of Meagan and Johnny Coxie, ages 25 and 29, authorities tell PEOPLE in this week’s issue, on newsstands Friday.

Shortly after his arrest earlier this month, investigators allege that Kohlhepp confessed to the killings of Beverly Guy, Brian Lucas, Scott Ponder and Chris Sherbert — who were all shot to death at Superbike Motorsports in Chesnee, South Carolina

Kohlhepp allegedly provided “details … that only the killer would know,” authorities say.

In addition to those murders, Kohlhepp has also been charged with kidnapping 30-year-old Kala Brown, who sheriff’s deputies say they found earlier this month chained in a storage container on Kohlhepp’s Woodruff property, after which he was arrested.

Kohlhepp has also yet to be charged with the murder of 32-year-old Charlie Carver, Brown’s boyfriend, who vanished with her on Aug. 31.

Prosecutors say Brown allegedly witnessed Kohlhepp shoot Carver in the head after their abduction, and his body was also found on Kohlhepp’s property.

Richard Shiro/APRichard Shiro/AP

After his arrest, in addition to his confession, Kohlhepp allegedly led police to Coxies, who authorities say were gunned down and buried on Kohlhepp’s farmland. Their bodies were allegedly found close to the metal container where Brown was kept.

“We just need to see how far this goes,” Sheriff Wright says.

As investigators work, the victims’ families are processing the sudden — and horrible — truth. As one relative tells PEOPLE, “I am praying for the mother who lost her son, and for this girl who went through hell, for her family and her boyfriend who died.”

Authorities have yet to determine a motive in all of the killings. But Kohlhepp’s mother, Regina Tague, has defended her son, telling CBS News that he is “misunderstood.”

“Todd was not a monster,” Tague said, claiming that the four victims in the bike shop had “bullied” her son.

“He’s not even close to it … He wasn’t doing it for enjoyment,” she said. “He was doing it because he was mad, and he was hurt.”